Training in Child Welfare: A Worker’s Perspective

This Major Research Paper will explore child protection workers’ unique experiences with the training they receive in preparation for the work they do. This study used a sample of five workers from different agencies who were provided an open-ended questionnaire. The research question was whether the workers’ feel confident in the training they received and whether they feel this training meets their needs as front-line workers. This study uses a Systems Theory Approach, viewing worker training as a piece of the child welfare system that is integral to its overall functioning and outcomes. The findings indicated that workers in Ontario felt there were areas of training that could be improved. The participants indicated that they had been involved in situations for which they felt inadequately trained. The implications for child welfare practice are numerous. Accessing firsthand knowledge on how the workers perceive their current level of training can be a starting point to implement a more wholistic training program. This could in turn influence the outcomes of practice.